In response to our call for seaplane stories, Ed Heinen sent in these two photo with an explanation: “In June 2002 I got my floatplane endorsement when I was over from Holland visiting my parents on Vancouver Island. The pictures were taken while getting the floatplane ready on a deserted pebble beach at Cowichan Lake for my five solo splash and goes for the endorsement. What fun!” [Read more…]
Picture of the day: Floatplane Heaven
George Weaver sent in this photo of “an anxious J3 on Lake Hood in Anchorage, Alaska — Floatplane Heaven. Nearly everything ever adapted to floats can be found there.” [Read more…]
Belite’s Sealite gets wet
Belite Aircraft founder James Wiebe flew the new Sealite Amphibious ultralight off the water for the first time on Wednesday. He also landed safely. Not once, but five times. [Read more…]
Chris Linn awarded Master Pilot Award
Chris Linn of Farragut, Tennessee, flies every chance he gets. The retired aerospace engineer, who keeps his floatplane at Sky Ranch Airport, home of the East Tennessee Pilots Club, was recently honored by the FAA with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for “practicing and promoting safe aircraft operations for more than 50 years” during a ceremony in Nashville. A story at KnoxNews.com quotes Linn as saying it was one of the greatest moments in his flight career.
Seattle looks to protect floatplanes
The City of Seattle is considering development restrictions near South Lake Union to preserve floatplane operations, according to a story in the April 13-19 issue of Puget Sound Business Journal. Kenmore Air operates as many as 100 flights a day, in the busy summer season. Proposed requirements include: [Read more…]